Why do some parents give their children money to spend each week?
Did you know that more than 60% of parents in the U.S. give their kids pocket money (an allowance) of $30 weekly?
Writing Practice For IELTS Task 2
Okay, so here's a typical Task 2 essay prompt from the IELTS Writing test.
Some people think that giving their children a certain amount of money every week will help them have fewer financial problems in the future.
Do you agree or disagree?
So, how to answer this essay question?
Writing Practice For IELTS - Planning Your Essay
Here's a quick guide to help you plan your IELTS Task 2 essay on this topic:
1. Understand the question
- Topic: Giving children weekly money
- Focus: Impact on future financial problems
- Your task: Agree or disagree
2. Choose your stance
- Agree: Weekly money helps prevent future money issues
- Disagree: Weekly money doesn't help or may cause problems
- Balanced view: It can help if done right, but has some drawbacks
3. Brainstorm main points (2-3)
For "Agree":- Teaches budgeting skills
- Builds money awareness
- Encourages saving habits
- May lead to poor spending habits
- Doesn't reflect real-world money management
- Could create dependency on handouts
4. Think of examples for each point
- Personal experiences
- Observed situations
- Hypothetical scenarios
5. Plan your essay structure
- Intro: Rephrase the question, state your opinion
- Body Paragraph 1: First main point with examples
- Body Paragraph 2: Second main point with examples
- (Optional) Body Paragraph 3: Third point or counter-argument
- Conclusion: Summarize your view, restate opinion
6. Consider vocabulary
- Financial terms: budget, saving, spending, allowance
- Opinion phrases: In my view, I believe, It seems to me
7. Time management
- Plan: 5 minutes
- Write: 30 minutes
- Check: 5 minutes
Remember to stay on topic, support your points, and use clear language.
Writing Practice For IELTS Developing Ideas
Begin by identifying some basics ideas by asking yourself questions.
- What is the importance of pocket money?
- What are the advantages of giving pocket money?
- What are the disadvantages of giving pocket money?
- Is there any good reason a child should not be given pocket money?
Finally, decide if you agree or disagree with the statement in the essay prompt.
It's okay to agree partially, but this particular essay question does not ask you to discuss both views. So avoid "sitting on the fence" - it's easier to pick a position (agree/disagree) and plan your essay on that.
Pocket Money - The Good
- It's a great way for a young person to learn responsibility, how to use money and prioritize spending.
- Some kids never learn even rudimentary concepts like understanding the value of a product, or comparative pricing and quality!
- Plus you can teach them about saving from time to time. Try putting away $5 into a piggy bank each week for a 2nd grader as an allowance so they learn to do math at home.
- Paying kids an allowance for their housework and chores is a good idea. It teaches them about personal finance from an early age.
Pocket Money - The Bad
- Yes, in some cases it might be a good idea, but be careful not to spoil kids.
- Giving kids pocket money is not good because it may lead to children expecting a certain amount of money or 'pay' for doing nothing.
- For example, the cycle begins with expecting pay without being responsible for doing any work. It's also possible that they may lose interest in tasks as a result.
- Kids might grow up being more dependent on others to do things for them.
- The best way to prevent this from happening is by providing an allowance instead. It can vary according to what chores are completed each week and how well they're done. This creates a sense of achievement and appreciation of the value of money.
- Pocket money can be an incentive for potentially irresponsible behavior.
- Too often, parents are hesitant to use pocket money as a way to control their child's financial involvement. Instead, they give their children their allowance without restrictions.
- Once they've learned the basics of saving, spending, and budgeting pocket money becomes less important.
- For younger kids with limited experience buying things, it can be more detrimental than motivating.
Good luck with your writing practice for IELTS!
Sample Essay Answer: Writing Practice For IELTS
The payment of a weekly allowance to children may help them learn to control a limited amount of money. But, without any deeper discussion driven by parents regarding money matters such as how to budget and make use of credit wisely, the impact of simply paying pocket money to children is somewhat limited. It does not guarantee that children will not experience financial difficulties later in their adult lives.
There is much more to managing money successfully than simply receiving it and then spending it. Children who receive a weekly allowance from their parents may do so for various reasons. However, if the main reason is that the parents see it as a way to avoid dealing with the topic of managing money in greater depth with their children, then the practice becomes less effective. But if the regular payment of an allowance forms the foundation of deeper financial education where parents are proactive in teaching their children about different aspects of money management, it is much ore effective.
One of the main problems is that many parents are not educated in terms of finance. So what happens? They simply pass on misunderstood ideas, concepts, and habits concerning managing money. The number of adults in serious debt currently is headline news and those who have experienced serious financial difficulties during their lifetime bear testament to the fact that simply receiving pocket money as a child is no surefire solution to avoiding financial problems in adult life.
Similar to any life skill, managing money requires a sound foundation of facts relating to money matters and a degree of practical experience. Parents can achieve this by engaging with their children and showing them the wider role of money management and not simply act as a source of regular payments for their children.
How would you write an essay on pocket money - should it be given or not?